The Special Branch is basically the intelligence arm of the Punjab police. It is tasked with gathering information on anti-state and sectarian activities in the province, as well as keeping an eye on the movement of foreigners in the province.

LAHORE:

For all the public rhetoric opposing the use of the security apparatus in politics, behind the scenes political parties continue to do exactly that.

In the most recent case, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in Punjab has tasked the Special Branch of Punjab police to conduct a political survey of the party’s standing at the local level in all constituencies in the province, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The exercise is effectively an internal audit of the party, and a way to gauge the performance and popularity of its own legislators.

Ironically, the move comes just days after provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the political cells of the Special Branch (SB) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) should be closed down just like the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had closed its political cell.

The Special Branch is basically the intelligence arm of the Punjab police. It is tasked with gathering information on anti-state and sectarian activities in the province, as well as keeping an eye on the movement of foreigners in the province. It prepares a ‘daily situation report’ (DSR) on security threats to the province at the smallest levels – a report which is compiled and used as a crucial source of information by law-enforcers.

However, with general elections in the air, the Punjab government has other ideas.

According to sources, the provincial headquarters of the Special Branch, at the behest of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, will now compile comprehensive constituency-wise details of members of the national and provincial assemblies belonging to the PML-N.

The effort is a part of the Punjab government’s bid to understand its current position in the province as well as the reputation and popularity of PML-N lawmakers amongst the general public across the Province, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Field offices of the Special Branch have been provided with a one-page form issued by the headquarters. The field officers are to compile all details, including general reputation, popularity and current position of members of national and provincial assemblies (MNAs and MPAs), public integration and even the ratio of increase or decrease of popularity in the constituency of the respective legislator.

In addition, it is interesting that particulars of ‘substitute candidates’, for cases where the position of current legislators of PML-N is considered to be weak, have also been sought. Substitute candidates are being identified to ascertain which contenders would be best placed to defeat particular political opponents that pose the biggest threat to the party in the upcoming elections.

When contacted on the matter, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah told The Express Tribune that no such exercise had been launched using the Special Branch. He said that the party itself had has a better understanding of the reputation and popularity of their legislators as well as the ground realities of the constituencies across the province – and hence did not need the Special Branch’s input.

He said that the party’s information would be more credible than that of the Special Branch.

This is the hyprocracy of highest class on part of Noon League.On one side, it is crying all the time that ISI was supporting PTI and on the other hand, it is using the intelligence agency of Punajb to win bye-election and the next general election for them.This is the reason why Noon League didn’t resign from Punjab assemby even after the vociferous appeals of Javed Hashmi and Saad Rafique at the end of last year.Had they left Punjab Govt, they would not have been able to terrorise their policial opponents in Punjab.Even now, they would resign only from National Assembly after the budget 2012 but not from the Punjab assembly till the last day.

Such tricks will not work any more.PML(N) will lose elections. At Yazman Mandi (Bhawalpur), PML(N) could not win their own seat vacated by the death Khalid Jajja and PML(Q) defeated by more than 5,000 votes. GEO PTI! GEO IMRAN KHAN!

In Past, ISI funded Them, and now they are rich enough to fund police or other bureaucratic elements to manipulate elections.
PMLN is using the same tactics but replacing army by police. Now they will use political wing of Police department for rigging. Yeah,it seems, they do have ideas,

Not a bad idea because PML-N will do more works in order to gain its popularity more briges more road works more building of infrastructure more chances for labour more money circulation so be positive.

PML(N) has been using political wing of ISI for its political gians and now blaming the ISI for interfering into political affairs. Now they are using Punjab Police Special Branch for same purpose. It is double standards.

This happening to the party members?! Imagine what kind of ‘police state’ Pakistan would become if they ever again make it to power in this country. It’s scary. Guess what they can might do to those who do not support them. Man, a dictator can’t do any worse than this. PML-Nawaz and his ‘Politburo’ must be kept far away from coming into power, voters be aware of spooks sniffing around you and your normal life as citizens.

Its difficult to trust the political parties especially PMLN. They want to respect supreme court only if its working in their favour but will attack the court and beat up the judges if it goes against the party wishes. They don’t want any political party to receive illegal money from any agency but they will be at the front of the que when the money is dolled out. They want every ones overseas account frozen and seized but themselves want to invest in UK or build houses in Saudi Arabia. What do these guys stand for.

lol imran phobia to PML N :P the first benefit to people of punjab specially due to PTI is tha shahbaz shareef is trying hard to restore credibility of PMLN by doing WORKS :))) there is alot to to come though and that a lot will be brought by IMRAN dosto :)

It is hilarious that PML-N on one hand crying for political role of agencies while covertly using them to garner their votes. How double faces these double brothers have. This is the real face of PML-N, where is rant of Chaudhry Nisar now, where the politics of morality by Mian Sahib has died now, Why Khadm-e-Aala is mum on this issue. PML-N is a group of political chameleon, never ever trustable. PML-N on one hand enjoying perks and privileges by occupying the top seats in Punjab while bashing Government on national level, if they were sincere to this nation, why they did not quit Punjab Assembly But problem is that Had they left Punjab Govt, they would not have been able to terrorize their political opponents in Punjab. Even now, they would resign only from National Assembly after the budget 2012 but not from the Punjab assembly till the last day.